Acamprosate in Alcoholics With Comorbid Anxiety or Depression
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00330174 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : May 26, 2006
Results First Posted : April 13, 2015
Last Update Posted : April 13, 2015
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STUDY OBJECTIVES:
The primary objective of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of acamprosate versus placebo in the treatment of alcohol dependence in adults with co-occurring mood or anxiety disorders (specifically, depression (MDE), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder). Secondary objectives are to evaluate the effect of acamprosate treatment on mood and anxiety disorders.
STUDY DESIGN:
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol dependence in adult outpatients with concurrent mood and/or anxiety disorders. The active study phase will be 12 weeks in duration. There will be a two-week screening period, followed by 12 weeks of study medication and a follow-up assessment at 14 weeks from randomization.
STUDY POPULATION:
A total of 90 (30 per site) men and women aged 18-60 years who have a current diagnosis of alcohol dependence as well as a current DSM-IV diagnosis of either MDE, GAD and/or social anxiety will be recruited to participate in this study. Only those individuals whose psychiatric disorders are stable will be randomized to acamprosate or placebo. Three sites will participate in this trial.
TREATMENTS:
Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive either acamprosate or matching placebo for 12 weeks.
EFFICACY ASSESSEMENTS:
The primary efficacy outcome measure will be cumulative days abstinent as measured by self-report.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Alcohol Dependence Major Depression Social Anxiety Disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Drug: Acamprosate | Phase 4 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 90 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | The Use of Acamprosate in Individuals With Alcohol Dependence and Comorbid Anxiety or Depression |
Study Start Date : | April 2006 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | September 2010 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | September 2010 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: 1
Acamprosate tablets
|
Drug: Acamprosate
2 333mg tablets three times daily |
Placebo Comparator: 2
Matching placebo tablets
|
Drug: Acamprosate
2 333mg tablets three times daily |
- Percent Days Drinking [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]Drinking was assessed using the timeline followback (TLFB), which is a calendar-based instrument used to assess drinking and other substance use on a daily basis.
- Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]This 10-item rating scale is commonly used in the European pharmacotherapy trials, and it may have benefit in assessing substance abusers, because it focuses on cognitive symptoms of depression instead of the physical symptoms, which could be due to substance use and withdrawal (Yonkers and Samson, 2000). Total scores are used; Scale range is 0-60, with higher scores reflecting more severe symptoms.
- Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]The LSAS is a 24-item semi-structured clinician-administered instrument that assesses social anxiety through the evaluation of fear and avoidance of different social and performance situations. There are two subscales (avoidance and fear), with scores ranging from 0-72; Total score for instrument ranges from 0-144. This study only reports on total score. Higher scores reflect greater anxiety symptoms.
- Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]This is a 14-item self report assessment that contains two subscales (depression and anxiety) with each subscale ranging from 0-21; the total score ranges from 0-42. We report total scores. Higher scores represent worse symptoms.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 60 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adults ages 18-60
- Meet DSM-IV criteria for current (past 90 days) alcohol dependence
- Must identify alcohol as the primary substance of abuse
- Meet DSM-IV criteria for a current major depressive episode, GAD and/or social anxiety disorder
- Have a stable psychiatric condition, as evidenced by a baseline CGI change score of 4 or below between the time of initial screening and the baseline visit, and if receiving psychotropic medication, must have a stable dose of medication for at least one month prior to baseline.
- Must have a negative urine drug screen at the baseline visit; UDS may be repeated no more that twice to obtain an negative UDS
- May be receiving medication treatment for anxiety/mood disorder as long as the dosage has been stable for 4 weeks prior to randomization.
- May be engaged in psychosocial treatment for alcohol dependence or for mood/anxiety disorders.
- Must abstain from alcohol for at least 3 consecutive days but no more than 21 days prior to medication initiation
- Subjects must be able to adequately provide informed consent and function at an intellectual level sufficient to allow the accurate completion of all assessment instruments
- Subjects must consent to random assignment, be willing to commit to medication treatment and follow-up assessments
- CIWA-Ar scale is 8 or less at the baseline visit
Exclusion Criteria:
- Individuals with a primary psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder
- Individuals who meet DSM-IV criteria for current (past 90 days) dependence on substances other than alcohol, caffeine or nicotine
- Individuals with an uncontrolled neurologic condition that could confound the results of the study
- Individuals with an uncontrolled medical condition that may adversely affect the conduct of this trial or jeopardize the subject's safety
- Regular use of benzodiazepines for the treatment of psychiatric symptoms (as defined as more than 12 times in the month prior to the screening visit)
- Individuals receiving pharmacotherapy (e.g. disulfiram or naltrexone) for prevention of alcohol relapse
- Women of childbearing potential who are lactating or refuse to use adequate forms of birth control
- Current suicidal or homicidal risk

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00330174
United States, Massachusetts | |
McLean Hospital | |
Belmont, Massachusetts, United States, 02478 | |
United States, New York | |
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons | |
New York, New York, United States, 10025 | |
United States, South Carolina | |
Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County | |
Pickens, South Carolina, United States, 29671 |
Principal Investigator: | Susan C Sonne, PharmD, BCPP | Medical University of South Carolina | |
Principal Investigator: | Jennifer S Potter, PhD | Mclean Hospital | |
Principal Investigator: | Richard Rosenthal, MD | Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons |
Responsible Party: | Susan Sonne, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00330174 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
CMP-MD-04 |
First Posted: | May 26, 2006 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | April 13, 2015 |
Last Update Posted: | April 13, 2015 |
Last Verified: | April 2015 |
Alcoholism Mood Anxiety Acamprosate |
Disease Alcoholism Depression Depressive Disorder Anxiety Disorders Phobia, Social Pathologic Processes Behavioral Symptoms |
Mood Disorders Mental Disorders Alcohol-Related Disorders Substance-Related Disorders Chemically-Induced Disorders Phobic Disorders Acamprosate Alcohol Deterrents |